Treatment

Have the person lie flat with the feet lifted about 12 inches to increase circulation. However, if the person has a head, neck, back, or leg injury, do not change the person's position unless he or she is in immediate danger.

Do not give fluids by mouth.

If person is having an allergic reaction, treat the allergic reaction, if you know how.

If the person must be carried, try to keep him or her flat, with the head down and feet lifted. Stabilize the head and neck before moving a person with a suspected spinal injury.

The goal of hospital treatment is to replace blood and fluids. An intravenous (IV) line will be put into the person's arm to allow blood or blood products to be given.

Medicines such as dopamine, dobutamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine may be needed to increase blood pressure and the amount of blood pumped out of the heart (cardiac output).

Other methods that may be used to manage shock and monitor the response to treatment include:

Expectations (prognosis)

Hypovolemic shock is always a medical emergency. However, symptoms and outcomes can vary depending on:

Amount of blood/fluid volume lost

Rate of blood /fluid loss

Illness or injury causing the loss

Underlying chronic medication conditions, such as diabetes and heart, lung, and kidney disease

In general, patients with milder degrees of shock tend to do better than those with more severe shock. In cases of severe hypovolemic shock, death is possible even with immediate medical attention. The elderly are more likely to have poor outcomes from shock.